Looks like Baltimore is done trying to obtain Burnett:
The
Baltimore Orioles on Saturday have agreed to trade right-handed pitcher
Sidney Ponson to San Diego for first baseman
Phil Nevin.
Buster Olney reports that Nevin has a limited no-trade clause and he hasn't approved the deal yet. The Orioles are on the list of teams he does not want to be traded to.
With Ponson moving to the Padres, the Orioles deal to acquire
Florida Marlins right-hander
A.J. Burnett has been shelved.
A three-way deal with the Orioles and
Texas Rangers, which would have sent Burnett to Baltimore, was "killed" by the Orioles this weekend, according to a baseball man familiar with the deal, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported. So the Marlins are believed to have broken off talks with Baltimore, at least for now, and are back to focusing on offers by the
Chicago White Sox,
Boston Red Sox and
Toronto Blue Jays.
Lowell, who is batting a disappointing .230 with just four homers and 39 RBI, is owed about $21 million through 2007.
Ponson was moved to San Diego once he refused a trade to the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays for left-handed reliever
Trever Miller.
The Padres have a need for a starter with
Adam Eaton likely heading to the bullpen. Troubled with elbow pain, Eaton can't throw his curveball, relegating him as a fastball-changeup reliever.
Now the Marlins have to try to find a taker for third baseman
Mike Lowell with Burnett, or return to the possibilities with the White Sox and Red Sox.
The White Sox figure to head the list of other deals, with prospect
Brandon McCarthy heading the package along with
Jose Contreras. The Red Sox offer would center on right-handed pitcher
Bronson Arroyo.
